(AP)
In his final State of the Nation address, outgoing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador strongly criticized former President Donald Trump’s border wall policy, asserting that employment is the key to addressing the migrant crisis. López Obrador emphasized that the root causes of mass migration cannot be addressed through “walls or militarizing borders,” in a clear rebuke of Trump’s approach.
López Obrador’s comments came amid strained diplomatic relations between Mexico and the U.S. After the U.S. ambassador criticized López Obrador’s proposal to elect judges through a popular vote, Mexico temporarily paused diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration resumed the construction of Trump’s border wall, with President Joe Biden previously labeling it a “waste of money.”
As the U.S. election approaches, immigration remains a central issue. Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have proposed policies aimed at curbing immigration. Trump has promised mass deportations, while Harris has pledged to revive a bipartisan border security bill.
Addressing thousands in Mexico City’s central square, López Obrador advocated for supporting poorer communities in Central America and the Caribbean as a solution to mass migration. He argued that creating jobs in underdeveloped regions would help reduce immigration to wealthier nations.
“We are helping through Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) and Youth Building the Future programs, and other actions,” López Obrador stated, emphasizing Mexico’s ongoing efforts to promote welfare and development programs in countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Venezuela, Colombia, Belize, and Cuba. He highlighted these initiatives as crucial to improving conditions in neighboring countries and mitigating migration pressures.
Vice President Harris, assigned by Biden to tackle the “root causes” of migration in March 2021, has been working to improve conditions in countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Biden had remarked, “She’s the most qualified person to do it,” regarding Harris’s role in coordinating diplomatic efforts to stem migration. However, despite these efforts, illegal immigration has increased, with Republicans targeting border security as a key campaign issue.
In his final weeks in office, López Obrador proposed a controversial judicial overhaul that would shift the appointment of judges to an electoral system. Critics argue this could lead to a judiciary filled with politically biased and inexperienced judges. The proposal has sparked widespread protests across Mexico and raised concerns among investors and financial institutions, further complicating the political landscape as López Obrador prepares to leave office.
